US Expels South African Ambassador as Tensions Escalate

The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio declaring him “no longer welcome in our great country.”In a post on X, Rubio accused Rasool of anti-American sentiment and hostility toward President Donald Trump, labeling him a “race-baiting politician” with whom the US has “nothing to discuss.” His remarks linked to a Breitbart article citing Rasool’s criticism of the Trump administration and its political base.The move underscores deepening strains between Washington and Pretoria. Last month, Trump signed an executive order freezing aid to South Africa, citing “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaners and the controversial Expropriation Act, which permits land seizures without compensation. The White House claims the law unfairly targets ethnic minority landowners, a charge the South African government denies.Diplomatic expulsions of senior officials are rare, even during geopolitical crises. Rasool, who previously served as South Africa’s envoy to Washington from 2010 to 2015, has not yet responded to the expulsion. The South African embassy has been contacted for comment.